Mulberry Commons

Mulberry Commons, once called Triangle Park, is a planned public park in Newark, New Jersey. It was first proposed in 2005 to be the centerpiece of 22 acres (8.9 ha) of the city's Downtown surrounded by Gateway Center, Newark Penn Station, Government Center and Prudential Center, an arena which opened in 2007. The city had acquired deed to the park land in conjunction with the construction of the arena, but the project had not been further developed.[1][2][3][4]

Triangle Park would face Prudential Center (background), Newark Warehouse Building (right), and connect to a footbridge over the tracks of an unused part Penn Station, where it will connect to platforms

In March 2016, Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced that park design would begin in April after a request for qualifications, with a projected completion in 2018.[5] The plan includes a city square of 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) connecting to footbridge of 0.5 miles (0.80 km) over McCarter Highway and the Northeast Corridor to the Ironbound neighborhood[6][7][8][9][5] with direct access to the train platforms at Penn Station.[10]

The area around the Mulberry Commons, much of it owned by Edison Properties,[11] will be developed by the company and other partners, initially converting the Newark Warehouse Building into retail and commercial space,[12][13][14][15] called Ironside Newark. M&M Mars-Wrigley has already signed a lease for several floors in the building for office space. Some employees will be relocated here from their Chicago office.[16][17]

An official opening ceremony for the park took place October 2, 2017.[18][19]

Site and land acquisition

View from Prudential Center to Edison Place and Mulberry Street and the Gateway
Much of the land in the area is owned by Edison Properties and used as parking lots.

The Triangle Park site is a parcel of approximately 3 acres (1.2 ha) in the shape of the triangle. The Central Graphic Arts Building, a 1907 Newark landmark also known as the Newark Warehouse Building, is located adjacent to the northeastern side of the park site, while Hamilton Street creates the southern side.[20][21][22] It is situated within the larger block bounded Edison Place, Lafayette Street, McCarter Highway and Mulberry Street.[23][1]

The site was earlier the rail yard of the western terminus of the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Newark and New York Railroad until service was discontinued and is used as a parking lot operated by Edison Park Fast operations, which owns numerous lots in the city.[24][1][25][22]

The city acquired the land for the arena and park under the auspices of the Newark Downtown Core Redevelopment Corporation (NDCRC) for about $9.4 million in a series of complex purchase and transfer transactions with landowners Jose Lopez (a prominent local restauranteur)and Edison Properties, among others.[1][26][27][28] The NDCRC was disbanded in April 2011 amid accusations of mismanagement.[29] The land was transferred to the Newark Housing Authority in February 2015.[30][31]

Development proposals

Park would cross over NEC tracks.

The park was first proposed to act as a city square for new residential and commercial buildings in the district around the Prudential Center.[32]

Edison Properties, which owns development sites on the periphery of the proposed park,[33] had previous agreements with the city and proposed more a passive park with open space. It promoted the adaption of the former CNJ bridge[34] to pedestrian walkway footbridge over McCarter Highway, the Northeast Corridor rail tracks south of Penn Station, and NJ Railroad Avenue to the city's Ironbound neighborhood, with a projected timeline of 2007 and an estimated cost between $40-$60 million.[35]

In February 2015, the Municipal Council of Newark heard proposals for development of the park, which would change the original vision of the park and potential stakeholders.[36][37][38] The city had opted to work with Boraie Development,[39] which had a proposal that included retail and entertainment facilities. According to Mayor Ras J. Baraka, the development of a 125,000-square-foot passive park would cost the city about $200,000 to $300,000 a year to maintain. Baraka stated that it was "a very valuable piece of land" should proceed with ratables.[40][30][41]

In March 2016, the city announced a new plan to build a 2.5-acre public park and a footbridge of 0.5 miles (0.80 km) with a direct connection to the train platforms at Newark Penn Station ending at a park in the Ironbound named for Peter Francisco[10] Edison Properties as well as other stakeholders including the Prudential Center, the New Jersey Devils, and J&L Parking Corporation, have contributed funds and will oversee the development of the remaining acreage for commercial and residential uses.[42][43][44]

Chinatown

The park is near what was once the heart of Newark's Chinatown in the early 20th century.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Giambusso, David (July 5, 2011). "After 5 years, $12M spent, Newark Triangle Park project remains a parking lot". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ Patterson, Mary Jo (February 13, 2009). "Redevelopment Lagging Near Newark's Arena". The New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  3. ↑ Pollock, Sarah (March 22, 2011). "Prudential Center yet to deliver on Newark revitalization". NJ.com. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ Rigby, Sian. "Open Space - Newark CEDC". www.NewarkCEDC.org. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Edison Properties and the Newark Department of Economic & Housing Development Announce Redevelopment Plans to Create Newark's Triangle Park". PRWeb (Press release). March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  6. ↑ Cooper, Robertson & Partners, A. Nelessen Associates, Schoor Depalma (August 6, 2004). "Newark Downtown Core District Redevelopment Plan and Amendment to the Newark Plaza Urban Renewal Plan" (PDF). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Resolution H-11-23-06-12" (PDF). Newark Housing Authority. June 23, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ "After 10 years and $42M, Newark set to break ground on downtown park". NJ.com. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  9. ↑ Ras Baraka (9 March 2016). "Redevelopment Plans to Create Newark's Triangle Park". New Jersey News, Politics, Opinion, and Analysis. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Request for Qualifications LANDSCAPE DESIGN SERVICES FOR TRIANGLE PARK" (PDF). Newark Community Economic Development Corporation. March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Gottesman looks ahead to Newark development: Longtime parking lot mogul says city is ripe for projects - NJBIZ". NJBiz.com. June 20, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  12. ↑ "11 years in the making, Newark unveils plan for 'transformative' downtown project". NJ.com. January 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Newark mayor unveils plans for 'Mulberry Commons,' the former Triangle Park - NJBIZ". NJBiz.com. January 19, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  14. ↑ kltv.com
  15. ↑ "Edison's Gottesman supports High Line-like park in Newark". TheRealDeal.com. February 6, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  16. ↑ Levitt, David M. (May 9, 2017). "Newark's First Speculative Office Project in 30 Years Unveiled". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Swinging a sledgehammer, Newark mayor helps launch warehouse redevelopment". NJ.com. May 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Transformative Mulberry Commons project breaks ground in Newark". ROI-NJ.com. October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Newark, Devils start work on long-awaited, $10M downtown park". NJ.com. October 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Newark Warehouse Building". Emporis. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  21. ↑ Lyons, Richard D. (April 2, 1989). "POSTINGS: Building Up Newark; 33-Story Tower". The New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  22. 1 2 Carter, Barry (September 22, 2010). "Newark's historic commission upset over demolition of buildings". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Triangle Park Master Plan" (PDF). 4ward Planning. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Newark Arena Project Area Review" (PDF). City of Newark. August 7, 2006.
  25. ↑ "Parking for Newark". ParkFast. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Resolution R-08-01-24-31" (PDF). Newark Housing Authority. January 23, 2008.
  27. ↑ "Resolution R-08-09-25-05" (PDF). Newark Housing Authority. September 25, 2008.
  28. ↑ "Resolution H-11-24-03-13" (PDF). Newark Housing Authority. March 24, 2011.
  29. ↑ Flynn, Gerard (December 19, 2014). "Can The Guy Who Helped Waste Millions In Newark Help Save NYC Public Housing?". Gothamist. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  30. 1 2 Nix, Naomi (February 24, 2015). "Newark council approves Triangle Park project with retail potential". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  31. ↑ "Triangle Park will be called 'Mulberry Commons.' What we learned about the transformative project planned for downtown". BrickCityLive.com. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  32. ↑ Lyanne (February 9, 2015). "Triangle Park (Newark's newest proposed park in Downtown) inches forward". Glocally Newark. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Edison Properties Hotel". Emporis. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Newark and New York Branch over NJ21" (PDF). New Jersey Historic Bridge Data. NJDOT. 2001. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  35. ↑ McDermott, Maura P. (October 17, 2007). "Newark goes all out to assure arena visitors' safe passage". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  36. ↑ Bonamo, Mark (February 3, 2015). "Fireworks set to go off at Newark council meeting about Triangle Park project". PolitickerNJ. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  37. ↑ Nix, Naomi (February 8, 2015). "Passive recreation or retail center: Developers, council struggle over Newark's Triangle Park project". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  38. ↑ Nix, Namoi (February 19, 2015). "Newark city council delays final vote on Triangle Park legislation". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Resolution H-13-15-25-04-12" (PDF). Newark Housing Authority. April 25, 2011.
  40. ↑ Bonamo, Mark (February 17, 2015). "Baraka on Newark's Triangle Park project: "We need ratables"". PolitickerNJ. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Triangle park moves ahead despite differing views". glocallynewark.com. February 25, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Newark's Triangle Park Project Moves Forward". Essex County Place. March 9, 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  43. ↑ "Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Edison Properties and the Newark Department of Economic & Housing Development Announce Redevelopment Plans to Create Newark's Triangle Park". PR Web. March 9, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Updated: Edison Properties, Baraka break ground on Mulberry Commons - NJBIZ". NJBiz.com. October 3, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.

Coordinates: 40°43′59″N 74°10′3″W / 40.73306°N 74.16750°W / 40.73306; -74.16750

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